Hickory, N.C. - The No. 25 Lenoir-Rhyne Women's Soccer Team (4-1, 1-0) opened South Atlantic Conference play in emphatic fashion with a 4-0 victory over Wingate (3-1-1, 0-1) Saturday evening at the Moretz Sports - Athletic Complex.

Four different players scored for the Bears, who avenged a loss to the Bulldogs in last year's conference tournament championship match.? Both teams also earned berths to the NCAA Division II Playoffs in 2011.

L-R got on the board just 3:45 into the match when freshman midfielder Kendell Smith (Asheville, N.C.) scored right in front of the net after the Wingate goalkeeper couldn't get her hands on a lob shot from junior defender Blair McDonough (Staunton, Va.).

The Bears made it 2-0 with just over five minutes before halftime when redshirt freshman forward Hallie Hilliard (Lenoir, N.C.) took advantage of the goalkeeper out of position and scored on a breakaway from the left side.

L-R closed out the scoring with two more goals in the second half including freshman forward Leah Mullins? (Kissimmee, Fla.) team-leading fifth goal of the year.? Freshman midfielder Zara Walker (Nelson, NEW ZEALAND) rounded out the scoring for the Bears in the 85th minute, her second goal of the season.

Lenoir-Rhyne senior goalkeeper Caitlin Scruggs (Torrance, Calif.) notched her second shutout of the year to go along with nine saves.? Wingate's Miriam Boucher (Calgary, Alberta, CANADA), meanwhile,?suffered the loss in goal despite totaling eight saves on the day.

L-R remains at home to finish out a six-match home stand when it faces Catawba in a league contest beginning at 5:00 p.m., on Wednesday.? Wingate hosts conference-foe Newberry on Wednesday at 5:00 p.m., as well.